Q: What is your attitude towards the prevalence of yobs? What will you do in order to cope with it?

A: We are taking a number of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour across London. Every London ward will have its own Safer Neighbourhood Team which will work with the local community to tackle yobish behaviour.

Q: Roughly speaking, how many Chinese students (or international students) found being attacked in London every year?

A: We do not issue crime figures relating to victim's or offender's nationality or ethnic origin. However I have provided below the following crime statistics for the Metropolitan Police area.

Offences of violence against the person

2003/04 - 186188 offences - 49064 cleared up = 26% solved
2004/05 - 201926 offences - 86659 cleared up = 42% solved

Q: As international students, what can we do to cope with yob behaviour?

A: Basic crime prevention advice:

• Think ahead and plan your journey, avoiding deserted areas.
• Try to avoid walking alone at night, and keep to well-lit main roads where possible. You should try to avoid short cuts like alleyways, waste ground and wooded, bushy areas.
• Stay alert: be aware of what is going on around you.
• It is always worth letting someone know where you are going, the route you intend to take and when you expect to return.
• Try to avoid wearing headphones - your ability to hear traffic, strangers or potential trouble is severely restricted.

Q: Does The Metropolitan Police Service provide any self-protection tools (such as alarms) to overseas students?

A: Chinese students are welcome to call the local polcie station to where they live (contact numbers are available on the Metropolitan Police Service website - www.met.police.uk or in the phone book). They can ask to speak to the Crime Prevention Officer who can provide further advice. In some cases women students can be issued with personal safety alarms.